The meeting might have drawn little notice were German-Turkish relations not at their lowest point in decades. Berlin has led criticism of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s turn toward authoritarianism, which has included the arrest of a number of German citizens on what Berlin considers bogus grounds.
The Turkish leader has responded with a string of ad hominem attacks, accusing German companies of supporting “terror” in his country and drawing comparisons between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the Nazis. Erdoğan has also lashed out at several other European countries and the U.S., suggesting they were trying to undermine Turkey in various ways.
The breakdown of the relationship with Germany has not been without cost. Tensions with Turkey’s most important trading partner and long a key ally in Europe has left Ankara particularly isolated. And with millions of Turks living in Germany, the collapse in the bilateral relationship worries many in Berlin, as well. [...]
The new tune suggests the Turkish leader is starting to take the economic impact of Turkey’s growing isolation seriously. Since the 2016 failed coup against Erdoğan, Turkey’s currency has taken a nosedive.
While the cheap lira has boosted exports and fueled growth, it has also led to a spike in inflation, which is near a 15-year high. Government interference in the economy has added to foreign investors’ concerns about Turkey’s course, and they are turning away from the country.
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